Therapist profile
Gretchen Shay, LCSW, LICSW
Alabama
Licensed social worker - codependency and relationships
Continue with GretchenWhere Gretchen stands
- Credentials
- LCSW, LICSW
- License
- LICSW, Alabama / 4865C; LCSW, Illinois / 149013908
- NPI
- 1962731968
- Experience
- 14 years
- Languages
- English
- Location
- Alabama
About
- Stress and anxiety
- Addictions and recovery
- Parenting support
About Gretchen
Gretchen Shay is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Illinois and a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in Alabama with 14 years of clinical experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, addiction, relationship strain, grief, parenting challenges, and codependency concerns. She also supports those coping with eating issues, trauma, and life changes.
Gretchen uses an interactive, conversational style in sessions. She listens for how patterns show up in daily life and helps people notice what keeps those patterns going. Conversations focus on small, practical steps people can try between sessions as well as on understanding feelings and attachment needs.
Her approach blends Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Motivational Interviewing, and Narrative Therapy. That mix is used to help address unhelpful thinking, improve emotional awareness, and shift relationship patterns. Sessions can include looking at stories people tell themselves and testing different responses to difficult situations.
Gretchen has experience working with people affected by medical diagnoses and caregiving demands, including grief and end-of-life concerns. She has worked with adults, adolescents, and children in past roles, and she brings that range into current clinical thinking.
Practical goals in her work include clearer boundaries, steadier mood management, better coping strategies for stress and addiction, and improved communication around family and relationship problems. To begin, clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.
How sessions work
How her approaches translate to online work
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting so clients can explore choices and values. It helps people who feel stuck in relationships or unsure about what they want. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and offers concrete skills to reduce anxiety, manage cravings, or change unhelpful patterns. Emotionally-Focused Therapy, or EFT, pays attention to attachment needs and the way emotions drive interactions, which can be useful when working through codependency and relationship distress.Choosing the most helpful approach is a collaborative process. She will talk with the client about goals, try techniques together, and adjust the plan based on what feels most useful. Trying a method for a few sessions allows both sides to see what helps in everyday life.
Confirm the specific online session options before booking, since the biography does not list formats. In general, online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. Some people prefer audio-only meetings for lower bandwidth or to avoid being on camera, while others choose longer video sessions for in-depth conversation. The therapist will discuss what works practically and shape sessions to fit the client’s schedule and goals.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
14+ years
Listed in
Alabama, Illinois
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Does she help with people-pleasing and setting limits?
Yes. She works with people who have trouble saying no and helps them practice clearer boundaries and small behavioral changes.
What is her general therapy style like?
She uses an interactive, conversational approach that focuses on practical steps and emotional understanding.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 14 years of experience as a social worker and therapist in a variety of settings.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is an LCSW in Illinois and an LICSW in Alabama and practices from Alabama.
Can I work with her if I live outside the United States?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients.
What session formats does she offer?
Confirm current session options before booking, as formats are not specified in the provided biography.
How does pricing work for sessions?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with her services?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe at home, use the crisis and helpline numbers.